El Greco (1541 - April 1614) was a painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El Greco" (The Greek) was a nickname and a reference to his ethnic Greek origin.
/Virginia%20Dimuzio/Artista%20del%20Mes%20-%20El%20Greco/El_greco.JPG "El Greco")
El Greco was born on the island of Crete which was, at that time, part of the Republic of Venice. He travelled at age 26 to Venice, as other Greek artists had done. In 1570 he moved to Rome, where he opened a workshop and completed a series of works. In 1577, he moved to Toledo, Spain where he lived and worked until his death. In Toledo, El Greco produced his best-known paintings.
El Greco is best known for elongated figures.
Can you find Toledo, Spain? (Hint - It is near Madrid, the capital of Spain.)
/Virginia%20Dimuzio/Artista%20del%20Mes%20-%20El%20Greco/Penance%20of%20Mary%20Magdalene%20By%20El%20Greco.jpg "Penance of Mary")
El Greco was a painter during the Spanish Renaissance (the 15th and 16th centuries). During the Renaissance (el Renacimiento) there was a renewed interest in art, literature and science. "Renacimiento" means "Rebirth".
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY has an "El Greco in New York" exhibit from Nov. 4, 2014 - Feb. 1, 2015. For additional information: 212-288-0700, frick.org; 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org.